John Kinrade on what keeps a 90-year-old farmer doing what he loves

When most people have a pacemaker fitted, they tend to slow down. Not Drouin farmer John Kinrade, however, who still spends every day outside.

John Kinrade turned 90 on Monday and just had a pacemaker fitted — but he’s not slowing down at all. Pictures: Yuri Kouzmin

When most people have a pacemaker fitted, they tend to slow down.

But beef farmer John Kinrade is not most people and, having turned 90 years old on Monday – two weeks after having said pacemaker fitted – is defying conventions on multiple fronts.

John still works on his Drouin farm every day and is thankful for his newly-found second wind.

John Kinrade on his Drouin farm.

“Before the pacemaker I was tired most of the time but these last few days I’ve been feeling a lot better,” he said.

“I like my work and it’s a good, healthy lifestyle. I’m getting too slow for sports but it’s just one of those things you keep doing and it keeps you fit.”

John’s farm was a dairy operation from when his family bought it in 1950 until 2021, when he transitioned to beef, and currently has about 200 head of Angus cattle in West Gippsland.

But, to John, that’s just a minor change compared with what he’s seen over his life.

“Put it this way, when we came up here (in 1950), we bought 100 acres, 36 cows, 12 heifers and some plant for 8250 pounds,” he laughed.

“There were 15 dairy farms on this road when we moved here and we were the last to get out.

“And at that time you could rear a family on 36 cows and it was considered one of the biggest herds in the district.”

Originally published as John Kinrade on what keeps a 90-year-old farmer doing what he loves